Fatigue can affect you physically, mentally, and emotionally. It can turn into a long-term exhaustion, making everyday tasks difficult in a variety of different ways. Fatigue is often much more than just being tired. Here’s a look at some of the symptoms that often accompany different types of fatigue.
Physical Fatigue
Physical fatigue can be the result of chronic illness, overexertion (muscle fatigue), and hormone imbalances (such as adrenal insufficiency syndrome). The fatigue that often accompanies chronic illness is a result of the body’s ongoing fight against whatever illness is attempting to take you over. This means in addition to the symptoms of illness, you may experience an overwhelming tiredness that is often present even after a good night of sleep.
Muscle fatigue caused by overexertion often occurs after extreme exercise, particularly if your muscles are not prepared for what you’re putting them through. For example, climbing a mountain when you haven’t engaged in much more activity than a leisurely walk around the neighborhood will use more muscles than you’re used to. Your muscles have difficulty getting enough oxygen, leading to a production of lactic acid. This makes the muscles sore and often weak. It can be difficult to engage in light activities that were of no consequence before.
Adrenal insufficiency syndrome, also called Addison’s disease, is a lack of key hormones produced by the adrenal glands (such as cortisol, the stress hormone). According to the Mayo Clinic, this disease is characterized by symptoms such as accidental weight loss, lack of appetite, craving salt, low blood pressure and sugar levels, gastrointestinal upset, joint and muscle pain, feeling cranky or depressed, a loss of body hair, or sexual dysfunction.
In general, common symptoms of physical fatigue include weakness, discomfort or pain in the musculoskeletal system, crankiness, frustration; depending on other issues that may be present, you may also experience depression, a lack of motivation (even to get out of bed), and difficulty concentrating as fatigue begins to affect multiple bodily systems. Unrelentless physical fatigue may result in a lowered immune system, leading to more frequent illness. Fatigue can even lead to hallucinations, poor coordination, moodiness, mental impairment, vision impairment, and increased response time.
Mental and Emotional Fatigue
Mental fatigue is when your body might feel rested, but your brain is worn out. Emotional fatigue, on the other hand, generally occurs when certain emotions have been strained to the breaking point. Compassion fatigue, for example, is a common condition in caretakers, such as doctors, teachers, or counselors, that occurs when the constant necessity of caring for someone else that combines with watching that person experience extreme physical or mental pain. Your mind and heart feel overworked and exhausted, rather than your muscles and bones.
Mental fatigue can make it difficult to concentrate or focus on a task. Solving problems that were simple may seem suddenly complex; your memory may suffer. The emotional aspects of fatigue can also affect mental fatigue, causing irritability and frustration -- with yourself or others. Mental fatigue may also interfere with sleep.
Emotional fatigue may appear as a sensation of being overwhelmed. Even when you are not actively dealing with the situation, you may find the feelings buzzing around in the back of your mind, distracting you and causing anxiety. As with other types of fatigue, you may develop a lack of motivation, and even easy everyday tasks can seem overwhelming. Ultimately, some of the symptoms of physical and/or mental fatigue may begin to join in. Likewise, when you are suffering from physical fatigue, it is easier for mental or emotional fatigue to set in -- when your defenses are not at their best, it is more difficult to keep your body holistically rested. If you’ve been experiencing unusual fatigue, talk to your doctor about the best steps to take.
